D & B Fried Fish & Barbecue in Orangeburg: Low Country Smoke and Seafood

What to expect at D & B Fried Fish & Barbecue

D & B Fried Fish & Barbecue is a casual spot in Orangeburg that does two things well: smoked meat and fried seafood. You walk in to a no-frills dining room, order at the counter, and sit down to eat. The barbecue comes from a real smoker—pulled pork, ribs, and chicken that have spent hours over heat. The fried fish and shrimp arrive hot and crispy, the kind of preparation that works best when you eat it right away. This is the kind of place where the food matters more than the décor.

The restaurant sits on a main road in Orangeburg, making it easy to find if you're passing through or live in the area. Parking is straightforward. The staff moves quickly during lunch and dinner rushes, which tells you the place has regulars who know what they want. Prices stay reasonable—you're not paying for atmosphere, you're paying for the cooking.

Key Takeaways

• D & B serves smoked barbecue (pulled pork, ribs, chicken) alongside fried fish and shrimp in a casual counter-service format.
• The restaurant is located in Orangeburg and offers straightforward parking and quick service during peak hours.
• Prices are moderate, reflecting the no-frills approach to dining.
• Fried seafood is best eaten fresh, so plan to eat soon after ordering rather than taking it home for later.

The barbecue menu and what to order

The pulled pork comes shredded and ready to pile onto a plate or sandwich. It has the texture that tells you it spent real time in the smoker—tender enough to fall apart but with enough structure to hold together. Ribs come as a rack or by the piece, and the meat pulls clean from the bone. Chicken is available whole, halved, or by the piece, and it picks up smoke flavor without drying out.

Most plates come with two sides. Collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread are standard Low Country accompaniments. Beans and rice also show up on the menu. The sides are straightforward—not trying to be fancy, just filling and done right. A plate of pulled pork with collards and mac and cheese is a complete meal, and the price reflects that.

The fried seafood side of the menu

Fried fish and shrimp are the seafood anchors here. The fish comes in a golden crust that stays crispy through the first few bites. Shrimp are fried whole, which means you get the tail and the meat together. Both arrive hot, which is the only way fried seafood should arrive. If you're ordering to eat there, this is the time to sit down and dig in.

Hushpuppies often come as a side with seafood plates—those fried cornmeal balls that pair with fish the way cornbread pairs with barbecue. Tartar sauce and hot sauce are usually on the table or available at the counter. The seafood plates also come with two sides, so you can add collards, mac and cheese, or whatever else is available that day.

When to go and what to know

Lunch and dinner are both busy times, especially on weekends. The lunch crowd tends to be local—people who work nearby or live in Orangeburg and know the place. Dinner brings families and groups. If you want to avoid a wait, aim for mid-afternoon on a weekday, though the wait is rarely long even during peak hours because the counter service moves fast.

This is a cash-friendly place, though many restaurants in South Carolina now take cards. Call ahead if you want to know about payment methods or if you're ordering a large quantity for a group. The restaurant is closed on certain days—check before you make the trip, especially if you're coming from out of town.

How D & B fits into Orangeburg's food scene

Orangeburg sits between Columbia and Charleston, making it a natural stop for travelers heading between the two cities. The town has a small but solid restaurant scene, and D & B holds its own as a place where locals eat regularly. The barbecue and seafood combination reflects the Low Country tradition—smoke and fry are the two pillars of South Carolina cooking, and this restaurant respects both.

The casual approach also fits Orangeburg's character. This is not a destination restaurant where you dress up and make reservations. It's a place you stop because you're hungry and you know the food will be good. That straightforwardness is part of what makes it work.

Parking, location, and getting there

D & B is located on a main road in Orangeburg with accessible parking. If you're coming from Columbia, take I-26 east toward Charleston and exit toward Orangeburg. The restaurant is easy to spot once you're in town. GPS coordinates or a quick search will get you the exact address and current hours.

The location makes it convenient for a quick lunch if you're passing through, or a dinner stop if you live in or near Orangeburg. There's no need to plan around complicated directions or parking situations—pull up, park, and go inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order barbecue and fried fish on the same plate?

Most restaurants let you mix and match sides, and D & B typically allows you to build a plate the way you want it. Ask at the counter—they can tell you what combinations work and what the price will be. Some places charge a small upcharge if you want proteins from different sections of the menu.

Do they have vegetarian sides?

Collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, and beans and rice are the standard sides. Collards and beans are often cooked with meat for flavor, so ask if you need a fully vegetarian option. The restaurant can tell you which sides are prepared without meat.

Is this a good place to eat with kids?

Yes. The casual counter-service format means no long waits for food, and the menu is straightforward—fried chicken, mac and cheese, and cornbread appeal to most kids. The dining room is relaxed, not formal, so you don't have to worry about noise or mess.

What's the best thing to order if I've never been?

Start with a pulled pork plate with collards and mac and cheese. It shows you what the restaurant does best and gives you a sense of the quality and portion size. If you want to try the seafood too, order fried shrimp as a second plate to share, or come back another time.

How far is D & B from Charleston or Columbia?

Orangeburg sits roughly midway between the two cities, about 45 minutes from Columbia and 45 minutes from Charleston depending on traffic and which part of each city you're starting from. It's a reasonable stop if you're driving between them and want a meal.